Carrying on with the interview process on SA Rocks I picked Sarah from the newly launched
Babazeka for this weeks interview.
Babazeka is a project that I am extremely envious of and I think that Scott and Sarah are going to do great things in the online sales space. Before I spill the beans lets hear what Sarah has to say:
What exactly is Babazeka and how did it come about?
Babazeka is an online store that’s all about social upliftment in South Africa. Basically, we sell handmade goods which have been produced by businesses/organisations which are empowering previously disadvantaged peoples. It came about for a few reasons. I wanted a company of my own that I could be passionate about (I love creativity and people), and that would have a higher purpose than pure monetary profit. I’m also tired of people being so negative about South Africa – I wanted to do something positive.
Do you think that there is a market for what you are selling and what exactly are you selling?
Absolutely. Nothing we sell is run-of-the-mill and I think people will appreciate that. There’s a trend at the moment, moving towards handmade goods and away from those that are mass-produced. Also, people are becoming more and more socially and environmentally aware – all of our products empower the people that need it, and most are environmentally friendly too. Our range on Babazeka is made up of fashion accessories and home decor items. Things like handbags, cushion covers, clocks, etc. All innovative, unique and beautiful!
Are you targeting the local or international market? Or both perchance?
We’re starting off by focusing on the South African market – until we’re sure that the operation of the site and our logistics are all running smoothly. We hope to start selling internationally early to mid 2008 – foreigners will go crazy for our suppliers’ products.
How difficult was it to set up payment methods? I hear that SA struggles with that sort of thing.
The process was a little complicated with the integration of a payment gateway into our website, but Virtual Card Services (who we’ve been using), have been more than helpful . The most difficult part of the process is acquiring your merchant number. If you have a long-standing relationship with a certain bank, it definitely helps!
Why didn’t you just start a real-life store? Why online?
Truthfully, the start-up capital was the initial reason to start an online store. One of the main goals of Babazeka is to eventually have a physical outlet, but online is a far more affordable option for a start-up business. Plus, my cousin Scott knows a thing or two about online marketing, so when he agreed to get involved it all made a lot of sense.
You clearly love SA after looking at Babazeka. What’s your driving force? What inspires you?
South Africa is my driving force. I travelled for a few years, and not once did I consider the option of not coming back. This place has a feeling about it like no other. Something that comes from our people. I know it has its problems, they’re kind of difficult to ignore, but I think the only way it’s going to improve is by young people with energy and ideas to use them for the benefit of the country.
I’m inspired by kindness, I suppose. It’s something I feel many fellow South Africans need, after such a difficult past. In a creative sense, I’m inspired by colour and innovative design – all of the products we are selling depict exactly this.
What sort of marketing plans do you have for the site? Can we expect a viral video or something different?
Loads of plans, too little time! From a video point of view, we’re currently putting together profiles of each of our suppliers so that our customers can associate with them and, hopefully, create a really meaningful connection with the product they buy. That’s the way we want to approach things – give our customers a story to tell their friends about the beautiful bag or cushion they just bought. It’s African Storytelling 2.0 
How did you get involved online? Tell me a bit about yourself.
Basically, it’s what I mentioned before. I had the idea for the business, and the urge to help empower South Africans, but it was only when Scott became my business partner that I was introduced to the online world. Honestly, I had no idea of the extent of it until about six months ago. I suppose a lot of South Africans have a long way to go in this regard – especially in terms of online retail. I live in Knysna, which offers me an incredible quality of life, but didn’t offer quite what I was needing in terms of careers. An online venture is an ideal form of business from a town like this. It provides far more opportunity for growth and stimulation.
Is there anything else you’d like to add in closing? Go wild…
We have a blog (blog.babazeka.com) which is starting to grow nicely. We talk about our suppliers, as well as our experiences of running a business like this. There’s something for everyone – entrepreneurs, designers, people into crafts.
And the the last thing I’ll mention is the actual word “Babazeka”. It’s Zulu and it means “be admirable” or “be beautiful”. It’s what we’re all about!
I wish Sarah and Scott all the success in the world (and I mean the world) with Babazeka. Do yourself a favour and buy from their site. Your relatives will love the products and will love it that you helped people survive by supporting Babazeka!
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